Denver Community Church

March 9, 2008: All Debts are Removed (6 of 8) – Michael Hidalgo

To say the writer’s of the Bible were subversive is an understatement. Mark tells us of Jesus’ “march” to his crucifixion, yet he cloaks it in a very familiar procession that his readers would have understood very well. Mark is writing to a Roman audience, and he uses what they know to point toward the triumph, kingship, and deity of Jesus. In the 1^st Century there was a ceremony for Caesar when he came to a city that was his triumphal entry. This parade went through the city to a temple on a hill where he performed a sacrifice to the gods. Jesus goes through this Triumphe and shows that victory is found not in human kingdoms - but the in his sacrifice that allows people to enter the kingdom of God.

March 2, 2008: Flesh and Blood (5 of 8) – Michael Hidalgo

Once again we see Jesus eating a meal. The ministry of Jesus seems to characterized by meals. This makes sense as meals were incredibly meaningful in the Ancient Near East. Meal practices were no small things … to eat a meal with someone who invited you said you identified and affirmed that persons lifestyle. Jesus’ meal practice was about inclusion in a society with sharp social boundaries. Jesus’ meals were saying “This is the Kingdom - what you do and see is not.” The meals of Jesus were more than metaphors or symbols. They were his way of saying that all are provided for. Jesus, the Bread of Life and the Passover Lamb, was food for the journey. His table was not one that was closed - he took, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to his disciples - like he did when the fed the 5,000. His bread is for everyone - his death is so that all can come and receive from him. 

February 24, 2008: Come Die With Me (4 of 8) – Michael Hidalgo

Jesus has continually called his disciples to follow him. He continually says to them, “Pick up your cross …” “Whoever wants to be first must be last …” Jesus is giving these instructions to his disciples in the midst of his telling them that he is going to be killed. They don’t get it. All they care about is their place in all of this. Enter a woman who does the unthinkable. She anoints Jesus with perfume that is worth a years wages. The disciples begin to question this. Jesus then says, “She gets it.” She has anointed me … she is serving. She is entering into my death with me. Jesus speaks toward the attitude toward the poor, and seems to compare himself with the poor. Judas stands as the contrast to the woman. He is the ultimate in failed discipleship. Jesus’ call is to enter his death. So our choice, according to this story, is simple … we will either be like Judas and fail or like the woman and serve. 

February 17, 2008: The Rule Has Been Disproved (3 of 8) – Michael Hidalgo

The trap is set for Jesus. The question is posed to Jesus about who should or should not pay taxes and if one should or should not pay the taxes to Caesar. This is a loaded question as taxation (or tribute) was symbolic of the oppression of the Romans over Israel. The taxes were burdensome, and in the minds of the Jewish people unfair. Rome was getting rich off their hard work. So if Jesus says that they should pay taxes he immediately loses and audience with the hard core who are Anti-Rome. If Jesus says that they should not pay taxes he is treasonous. So he asks to see a coin … it has an Image on it. Jesus discredits those who are asking the question, because an observant Jew would never have a coin with an image on it, this was breaking the third commandment. Jesus remarks Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. So just what is God’s? Everything … the whole earth (Ps. 24.1). The implication then is that Caesar has nothing. 

February 10, 2008: Not Exactly a Green Thumb (2 of 8) – Britton Smith

Jesus storms into the Temple and begins to turn over tables of those buying, selling, and trading. Is he angry that people are profiting from “ill-gotten-gain” or is there some connection with the fig tree incident shortly before he heads up there? Israel was referred to as a fig tree often in prophetic literature. Jesus sees a fig tree and thinks it looks good. Then upon closer inspection it no longer looks good. He then curses it - meanwhile he is in the Temple overturning tables - then after that Temple incident the fig tree is withered. Mark, in a clear and compelling story telling device, frames what has happened with Israel and the Temple. What was to be a house of prayer for all people has become a hiding place for thieves and gluttons. The Temple system looks good from afar but is far from good.

February 3, 2008: Kings, Mules, and Horses (1 of 8) – Michael Hidalgo

Here comes the King! Here comes the Savior of Israel! Here comes the one who was promised! Wait, wait, is her crying?!?! What in the world is going on here? At first glance everything was shaping up into a perfect storm for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem the conquering hero. After all this is what Caesar would have been doing on the other side of the city, and it is what was expected to happen according to Zechariah - yet for some reason the conquering hero of this story is weeping for the very people who are celebrating his arrival. Jesus at what some considered the pinnacle of his career was heartbroken - for his people missed his message.

January 27, 2008: What are You Saying – Michael Hidalgo

So often we become formalized in our speech that we stop hearing what we are saying. We develop wrote prayers devoid of meaning and substance and miss out on deep communion with God. Prayer however is something intensely personal between God and us. It is deep intimacy with the Creator of our world. But what does it look like to center ourselves fully on the person of God to whom we speak? What does it look like to draw near to God on his terms - to have our prayers focus on him - rather than draw near to him on our terms? As we commune with God through prayer our life should reflect who he is more and who we are less.

January 20, 2008: Give It Away – Michael Hidalgo

The sages said, “He who gives in secret is greater than Moses” (Babylonian Talmud Baba Batra 9b). As a matter of fact giving alms was considered to be the second holiest act one could do outside of studying Torah. It is no wonder then why some wanted others to know of their unbelievably righteous acts. Consider this - how would such a public display of almsgiving make the one receiving alms feel? What would it be like to be an object used so one could feel good about himself? Giving to the poor was rightfully considered a sacred thing, but to make it public was to make a spectacle of the poor - not to mention placing the credit for the provision of God in your own hands. Jesus points toward giving that is done with no hope for public recognition, but giving that done for the simple purpose of blessing others. 

January 13, 2008: Loving the Haters – Brian Gray

Sigmund Freud said, “The commandment [‘Love thy neighbor as thyself’] is impossible to fulfill … Anyone who follows such a precept in present day civilization puts himself at a disadvantage.” With this hopeful viewpoint of the teachings of Jesus we ask the question … just how can I love someone who hates me? Jesus begins by quoting Rabbinic thought, You have heard it said, “It is a duty to hate the one who is sinning as it is said, ‘to fear the LORD is to hate evil.’” There was a debate in Jesus’ day about who people should love. The question was “Who is my neighbor?” This was asked in reference to Leviticus 19.18. The words for love seems to answer this. The Hebrew word v'ahavtah --is rare and only occurs three times in connection with people loving people. All three times in happens in the context of vengeance. It carries this idea of this being a choice in relation to one who has wronged you -- your enemy. This word was also used in reference to loving God -- love it seems is a choice. Our choice then is, will we love God? This is an important question as Dorothy Day reminds us when she says, “You can only love God to the extent you love the person whom you love the least.”

January 6, 2008: The Art of Nonviolence – Michael Hidalgo

Are we really just supposed to sit back and let evil run its course? I mean what about all of those people who are harassed and helpless - aren’t we supposed to do something to help them? Jesus’ comment about turning the other cheek is so often misconstrued. Jesus is forcefully asserting himself toward those who oppress others. He shows that in his kingdom it is not about swords, clubs, or fists … it is actually about subverting the powers that exist in our world and exposing evil for what it is.